Vegetables

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development works closely with the vegetable industry to promote growth through better market access, developing integrated pest management programs and improving water and fertiliser use efficiency.

Vegetable production in Western Australia had a farm gate value of about $336 million in 2013, with the total industry value being $909 million. Most crops are grown for local consumption, apart from carrots, which are exported year-round to South East Asia and the Middle East.

The main growing areas are in the South-West, especially the Swan Coastal Plain from Gingin to Busselton, and around Manjimup and Albany.

Articles

  • A benchmarking study was conducted in 2016 on fertiliser and irrigation practices of 10 tomato growers in Carnarvon.

  • Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) is a declared pest in Western Australia. It can significantly reduce crop yields in potatoes and tomatoes.

  • Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a very damaging virus disease of tomato crops in tropical and warm temperate regions of the world, causing losses of up to 100%.

  • Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) is considered the most devastating disease of potatoes worldwide and caused the Irish potato famine in the 1840s.

  • Bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) is a serious disease of potatoes that can cause crop losses of more than 90%.

  • Potato virus Y tuber necrosis strain (PVYNTN) causes a serious disease of potatoes called potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease which results in dark unsightly rings on tubers.

  • Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum is a bacterial plant pathogen that is exotic to Australia. Currently five haplotypes have been described: haplotypes A and B from solanaceous crops suc

  • Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum is an exotic pest to Australia. It can affect both solanaceous and apiaceous crops.

  • Root-knot nematodes are plant-parasitic round worms with a broad host range which includes many important horticultural crops, pastures and some weed species.

  • Scheduling irrigation for tomatoes based on crop factors and evaporation, combined with soil moisture monitoring to confirm irrigation effectiveness, will result in more efficient watering.